This long planned exercise, under the command of Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples), will meet the requirements set by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) to exercise the VJTF as the lead elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF). The NATO Response Force is a technologically advanced, multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces components that are rapidly deployable.

A german Leopard 2 A7V tank backs out of the ARK Germania RoRo cargo ship in Cagliari, Italy April 24. This tank, along with other equipment was transported to Sardinia to take part in the NATO exercise Noble Jump 23. Noble Jump is designed to train soldiers who are a part of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force to work together seamlessly. - Photo by OR-7 Sven Fischer DEU-A, Noble Jump's NATO Media Information Centre

It provides collective defence and a rapid military response to emerging crises. In addition, it can perform peace-support operations, provide protection to critical infrastructure and support disaster relief.

“The Noble Jump 23 exercise demonstrates that NATO is united, ready and willing to defend allies. Here, the NRF demonstrates itself as a credible military option. It is a statement of our resolve and our capabilities,” said Navy Captain William Urban, Chief Public Affairs JFC Naples.

Approximately 2,200 troops will converge on Sardinia from Allied nations Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Czechia and Luxembourg. The exercise is being hosted by Italy.

Formed in 2002, the NRF provides NATO with a credible, rapidly deployable military option to respond to emerging crises, underpinning the principle of Collective Defence. Command of the NRF rotates annually between the operational-level NATO headquarters JFC Naples and JFC Brunssum. JFC Naples has assumed the NRF leadership for 2023.